How to Find the Harry Potter Facebook Easter Egg

Conjuring this bit of wizardry is as simple as saying "alohomora."

Facebook’s latest Easter egg is a tip of the Sorting Hat to Harry Potter in celebration of the vicennial of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (later retitled “the Sorcerer’s Stone” in America).

To think, it’s been 20 years since the first of seven books was published, igniting a cultural phenomenon for many. Lucky for us, this bit of Facebook witchcraft is easier to manage than a day one Potions query. “What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” Professor Snape asks a befuddle Harry (and reader, let’s be honest). The answer: Draught of Living Death, but we don’t learn that until Book 7. Anyway.

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On both the Facebook site and mobile app, to cast the spell, type out a post containing any of the phrases “Harry Potter,” “Gryffindor,” “Ravenclaw,” “Hufflepuff,” or “Slytherin.” Then touch any of the keywords and a wand appears, shooting sparks. As an added bonus, the house names appear in their traditional colors (Red for Gryffindor; blue for Ravenclaw; yellow for Hufflepuff; and green for Slytherin).

Better that your Facebook friends tell you how they think they would be sorted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry than who they voted for or whatever cute nonsense their pet has been up to. Unfortunately, though, this appears to be the extent of the Easter egg. It doesn’t extend to other notable characters from the series, like Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, or Rubeus Hagrid.